Police captain retiring Sept. 4, new lieutenant named, public relations consultant hired: Riverhead Town Board wrap, Aug. 20 meeting

Riverhead Police Capt. Richard Smith is retiring on Sept. 4.

Smith has served as captain of the department since his promotion to the position in July 2002. He was recommended for the promotion by Chief David Hegermiller, who had served as captain until his promotion to chief in March of 2002. Hegermiller retired at the end of July.

Smith has had a 36-year career as a police officer in Riverhead, having been appointed in November 1988. He started active duty in July 1989 after his graduation from the Suffolk County Police Academy. 

Smith gave notice on Aug. 7 of his intent to retire and the Town Board accepted his retirement at its Aug. 20 meeting.

Also at the Aug. 20 meeting, the board promoted Sgt. Brian Clements to the position of lieutenant, filling the vacancy created by the promotion of Ed Frost to Chief of Department as of Aug.1.

The Town Board on Aug. 20 also ratified the appointment of two new probationary officers, Ryan Waski and Gina Falsitta. They were appointed on Sunday and started training at the police academy on Monday, Hubbard said.

Waski is the daughter of Council Member Joann Waski, who abstained from voting on the resolution, and retired Riverhead Police Officer Patrick Waski, and is the sister of Riverhead Police Officer Andrew Waski, who was sworn in as a full-time police officer in June.

Agreement with Mark McLaughlin as public relations consultant

Ratified its authorization for the supervisor to sign a professional service agreement with Mark McLaughlin for public relations and media for the town. McLaughlin is chairperson of the town’s anti-bias task force, a volunteer position to which he was appointed last September. He is employed as Assembly Member Jodi Giglio’s chief of staff.

Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed Aug. 12, McLaughlin will be paid at the hourly rate of $75 not to exceed $10,000 for the 2024 calendar year. The agreement does not have a termination date but shall remain in effect until terminated by either party. The hourly rate shall remain the same after 2024 but shall not “exceed the Office of the Supervisor’s designated annual budget line for the described services.” 

Under the terms of the agreement, McLaughlin is tasked with creating a “strategic communication process that builds mutual relationships between the Town, organizations and businesses, residents, and the general public.” He will also “highlight unique or noteworthy projects or celebrate successful projects located within the Town and “serve as a resource for public relations advice and project management for the Town and as a resource for Town staff.” He will also “be enhancing Town Social media and bolstering use of YouTube, etc. to promote positive work of Town of Riverhead and its employees and Town Board.”

McLaughlin will assist the supervisor’s office with the production of the Riverhead in Action campaign and “work with town staff to identify, write and share potential positive stories to build community image and engagement.”

After Riverhead resident Cindy Clifford asked whether the town advertised for proposals and whether McLaughlin has relevant experience, Hubbard said a professional services contract does not have to be advertised and McLaughlin is “a person with background that we wanted specifically for what we’re doing.” 

Other actions taken at the Aug. 20 Town Board Meeting

The Town Board on Aug. 20:

• Appointed Marc Alessi of Shoreham ato the town’s Emerging Technology Committee and named him as its chairperson. 

• Adopted three town code amendments: a change to allow paving of a parking lot after 8 p.m. without a public hearing; a change to clarify that the bed-and-breakfast use is allowed by special permit only in zoning districts where the use is specifically permitted; a change to remove an exception allowing temporary parking of vehicles on non-driveway areas.

The Town Board also scheduled the following public hearings:  

• A hearing on a proposed code amendment to amend the Community Preservation Code to create a Community Preservation Fund Water Quality

• Improvement & Pollution Prevention Committee. (Sept. 4 at 2:10 p.m.)

• A hearing on a proposed code amendment to prohibit right turns on red from  Kroemer Avenue northbound onto County Road 58 (Sept. 17 at 6:05 p.m.)

• A hearing on a proposed amendment to the Rental Dwelling Units code’s regulations setting maximum occupancy limits for bedrooms based on the square footage of “clear floor area” of the bedroom. (Sept. 17 at 6:15 p.m.)

Also at the last meeting, the Town Board:

• held a public hearing on a special permit application by the Riverhead Charter School to place portable classroom trailers on the Charter High School site on Sound Avenue, as it continues its quest for a new location for the high school.

• honored four Riverhead police officers with life saving awards for rescuing trapped residents from a burning building Aug. 5.

• rescinded a resolution approving a special event permit for the Blues by the River concert weekend after the concert producer notified the town it was canceling the event.

Alek Lewis contributed reporting.